US HB1917

Establishes the Great Lakes Mass Marking Program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to tag hatchery-produced fish in the Great Lakes basin, building on a program initiated in 2010 that currently tags 9-11 million fish annually

Authorizes the Director to purchase equipment, fish tags, and supplies for tagging and tag recovery operations, as well as hire additional personnel

Requires collaboration with Federal, State, and Tribal fish management agencies, the Council of Lake Committees of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, and signatories to the Joint Strategic Plan for Management of Great Lakes Fisheries

Program data must be shared with management agencies to support native species recovery, balance predator-prey populations, improve recreational and commercial fisheries, and evaluate habitat restoration effectiveness

Authorizes $2,700,000 annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030